2) I think of this chapter “Creation” as a revelation of Revelation, expression of Expression that has come the only way it could come--through pure self-effacement. The mental swaddling clothes-- self-consciousness, fear, trust in matter—aren’t here.

The majesty of the three opening declarations summon thought to turn from the sense of chaotic change, 917 active US hate groups, universal commotion in matter -- to faith in good, the immensity of “Eternal Truth is changing the universe.” (SH, p. 255) They antidote the fear of these times that things have a way of turning out so badly.

The style is revelatory without topic sentences or transitions. The gap between paragraph four and five took me by total surprise. Where did the fifth paragraph on Tritheism impossible (marginal heading) come from? It seemed so out of place. Eventually I saw that every synonym for God-- except Life and Soul--has been directly named by the end of the paragraph four, which also invokes Life as Love, “the Father and Mother of the universe, including man.” And where then is God as Soul? In paragraph five which begins “The theory of three persons [souls] in one God…”? In this paragraph where the thought of identity as infinite Person, I AM is appearing? I feel in awe of our Leader’s communion with God. At the same time I feel barely aware of what I’ve been given. The burst of light in paragraph one—the full spectrum of God—and the seven rainbow colors of God appearing!

3) The chapter “Creation” and the Association references brought to mind a change from discord into harmony I will never forget.

Years ago I taught at a high school that was renovating its cafeteria. In consequence all students (and teachers) were assigned to their fourth period classroom for lunch. The transition from brown bag lunches to fourth period English was unruly. Paper often littered the floor and prankish students got the urge to start class by throwing paper, forcing me to invoke the “nuclear option.” In that school the principal’s law was 3 U’s in Conduct = you fail the class. I laid down the law that anyone who threw paper would get an automatic U for the grading period. Order was restored as I spoke.

Some weeks later I saw at the back of the class a young man pitch a wad of paper a few desks away. He looked up and saw me see him. I’d stated the law and couldn’t take it back. I’d already given him one U for surly, disruptive behavior. He was the kind of kid who when he bumped into me in the crowded hall did not say, “Excuse me.” His hair fell in his eyes, his face was red, and during lunch I heard him say, “I hate my father. I hate my brother.”

Because his paper wad flew in the face of the Rule that had restored order, I couldn’t ignore it; yet I wanted to give him a second chance, because paper throwing was by now a thing of the past. I offered a way out. If he picked up the paper on the floor, I wouldn’t give him a U. He looked defiant and said, “No.” I thought, You idiot and gave him the second U.

But I was concerned. Christian Science had not been demonstrated. For six weeks I did not know what to do.

Then one day absorbed in the Bible Lesson, I saw that to God this boy was totally loveable and totally loved. It just came over me. And effortlessly I knew why he had refused to make a deal and pick up the paper—that would have been groveling, without dignity. I would tell him I understood. And because of this awakening, I would also tell him that regardless of what he might do in the future, I would not give him another U because he hadn’t deserved the last one. This is what I said to him, the exact words. His face changed, and he said, “Thanks, I was worried about that.”

The next day he gave me the peace sign from across the library. We became good friends. His name is Paul, and I will always remember him.

In considering this experience from the standpoint of “Creation” I see “thought expands into expression.” (p. 255) I see “mortals present more than is detected upon the surface. ...” (p. 267)